Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like



L'. E. LOVETT June 11, 1940'.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed April 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR LOUIS E. LOVETT ATTORNEY Patented June 11, 1940 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD OR THE LIKE mun s. Lovett, Cleveland Heights, one, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1936, Serial No. 14,326

10 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin.

According to the invention, thread or the like from a suitable source, such as a spinning nozzle or other thread-forming means, is passed through one or more closed passages in which it is subjected to appropriate processing treatment, the passage or passages being preferably of sinuate form. By passing the thread or the like through a sinuate passage, as, for example, a passage of helicoidal shape, a relatively long length of thread or the like may be processed in a relatively small space. If a plurality of such passages are employed through each of which the thread or the like is caused to pass in sequence, a plurality of different processing treatments may be applied to the thread or the like.

The invention may be applied to the manuduced by the extrusion into a coagulating bath of latex or other dispersions of rubber, artificial silk thread manufactured, for instance, by the viscose, cuprammonium, nitro-cellulose, or cellulose acetate process, staple fibre, artificial straw, artificial horsehair, etc. For convenience in illustration, but in no sense of limitation, it will be described hereinafter in connection with the manufacture and processing of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread.

In the drawings, in which is shown one form of apparatus embodying the invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through a machine for the continuous manufacture of thread or the like. Figure 2 is an elevation of the operating face of the machine. Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the machine from line 3--3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an elevation on the same scale as that of Figure 3 from line 4-4 thereof. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation on an enlargedscale of ejector means which may be employed in the practice of the invention. in the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. I

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the thread I is formed in the usual way by extruslon of viscose from the spinning nozzle 2 immersed in coagulating bath 3 contained in trough 4. Suitable means may be provided for withdrawing the thread from spinneret 2, such, for example, as a positively driven godet wheel 5 around which the thread may' be passed one or more times in a manner to prevent slip thereof. From the godet wheel 5 the thread may pass over suitable guide means, such as rotatable roller 6, to a group of serially disposed helicoidal tubular passages in which the thread is subjected to processing treatment.

While any suitable number of such helicoidal tubular passages disposed in processing sequence may be provided, depending on the number and nature of the operations which it is desired to perform on the thread, four, bearing reference numerals I, 8, 9 and i0, particularly adapted for the application of processing liquid to the thread have been shown for purposes of illustration.

. Thus the thread I may be subjected to the action of a coagulating liquid in helicoidal tubular passage I; washed, as by water, in helicoidal tubular passage 8; desulphurized in helicoidal tubular passage 9; and again washed in helicoidal tubular passage ill. The thread I, after leaving the last helicoidal tubular passage to may be dried, as on drying means H, after which it may be collected on any suitable device such as captwister H2.

The thread and processing medium therefor are passed simultaneously through each helicoidal tubular passage; preferably, but not necessarily, in concurrent relation to each other. If, as in the usual. case, a liquid processing medium is employed, it is preferable to maintain the helicoidal tubular passage completely filled with the liquid, the liquid being passed therethrough at a rate sumcient to carry the thread with it. It is desirable to impose the desired velocity on the liquid processing medium by withdrawing the processing liquid at a suitable rate from the discharge end of the helicoidal tubular passage.

Each helicoidal tubular passage is preferably mounted with its axis horizontal, the end through which the processing medium enters the helicoidal tubular passage extending upward and the end from which the processing medium is discharged therefrom extending downward. The individual coils of the helicoidal tubular pas- "ages may conveniently, but need not necessarily, be of circular cross-section. In the case where material of the size of thread is being passed therethrough, the helicoidal tubular passages may be of relatively small diameter, approaching capillary fineness.

If desired, the entrance to each helicoidal tubular passage may be enlarged; for instance, it may take the formof the funnel I5 shown, thereby facilitating the operation of starting the thread through the helicoidal tubular paswith the funnel sage. The, means illustrated for supplying a The liquid collected in each trough 23 may be processing, liquid comprises, a. liquid supply conduit l6 commu icating by means of a pipe l1 5, a constant head of liquid being maintained in the conduit l5 by suitable means such as a header box from which the liquid is supplied to the conduit It. The means illustrated for withdrawing the processing liquid from the discharge end of each helicoidal tubular passage comprises an ejector l8 which may be of the type shown on enlarged scale in Figure 5. The ejector l8 comprises an enlarged portion I 9 in which is positioned a nozzle 22. The discharge end of the nozzle 22 is located at the throat of a Venturi tube 2| embodied in the ejector l8. When a suitable gaseous or liquid medium, such. for example, as the processing liquid being passed through the helicoidal tubular pas sage, is discharged at high velocity from nozzle 22, processing liquid in the helicoidal tubular passage is continuously withdrawn therefrom and discharged into a suitable collecting trough 23. In the apparatus shown, the ejector hoLzzle 22 is supplied with a liquid under suitable pressure from pipe 24 and conduit 25, a valve 26 being provided, if desired, to govern the discharge from the ejector nozzle 22 and consequently the rate at which the processing liquid is withdrawn from the tubular passage.

While the helicoidal tubular passages may be disposed in various arrangements, it is con-'- venient to arrange them in-vertical series with corresponding helicoidal tubular passages inadjacent series in the same relative position. The axes of the helicoidal tubular passages preferably extendparallel to and longitudinally of the opcrating face of the machine. When the helicoidal tubular passages are arranged as shown, with their axes parallel to the front of the machine, the entrance and discharge ends of the helicoidal tubular passages may be positioned in such relation that they are within easy reach of the operator.

The helicoidal tubular passages may be supported as desired in any one of various ways.

In that shown in the drawings, each helicoidal tubular passage is held between bar members 21, 28 fastened, as by screws 29 threaded into member 28, to brackets 30, which brackets 39 are provided with lugs 3| disposed between the bar members 21, 28, through which lugs the screws 29 pass. If desired, a yielding material such as rubber may be held under a slight compression between the bar members 21, 28 and the helicoidal tubular passages to prevent any undue or unequal pressure on the tubing. In addition, means 32 may be provided to support each helieoidal tubular passage from beneath. In the mounting means illustrated, by removing the screws 29 from the corresponding bars 21, 28 and brackets 30, any helicoidal tubular passage may readily be removed for replacement, cleaning, etc. A suitable member 33 may also be mounted on each bracket 3| to support the pipe 25 and ejector ill for each helicoidaltubular passage.

If the helicoidal tubular passages in corresponding positions in adjacent vertical series are disposed as shown, the construction of the processing medium supply and removal systems is simplified. Thus the conduit l6 from which processing liquid is supplied to the helicoidal tubular passages, conduit 24 from which liquid is supplied to ejector nozzles 22, and collecting trough 23 may be common to a plurality of helicoidal tubular passages in a horizontal series.

passed to sewer, especially if it is a liquid such aswash water which it is desired to use only once,

or il it is desired to re-use it, it maybe recir-j culated.

If the helicoidal tubular passages in each vertical series are arranged as shown, the thread I. after leaving the preceding helicoidal tubular passage, may pass around guide means 34, 35, which may be rollers as shown, to a succeeding helicoidal tubular passage. It may, therefore, be desirable to construct the collecting trough 23 in the form shown, in which the trough is provided with suitable re-entrant portions 36 in which the rollers 35. which guide the thread as it enters the succeeding helicoidal tubular passages, are positioned. Obviously, any other suitable shape may be employed in lieu of that shown.

It is sometimes desired to stretch the thread idrive all the rollers 34a and 35a in a horizontal series and which may be driven by suitable means, not shown. The difierences in peripheral speeds between rollers 34a and 35a may be obtained by suitable ratios of the gears 38, 39 or, as shown, by differences in diameters of the rollers 34a and 3511.

. are positively driven through gears 45, 46 from shafts 41 which may extend longitudinally of the machine and serve like drying devices in adjacent units. Thread is continuously wound about both the rollers 42 and 43, and, because of the inclined relation of rollers 42 and 43, is caused to advance axially thereof until it is withdrawn therefrom, as by means of guide 48. While a comparatively long length of thread is thus continuously temporarily storedon the rcllers42, 43, it may be dried by drying medium, such as heated air, supplied through duct 49 to the chamber 44 which surrounds the rollers. A shutter, not shown, may be provided to close the duct 49 when the inclined rollers 42, 43 are being threaded up. A closure 50 may be provided at the front of chamber 44 to allow access to the rollers.

If desired, the drying stage may be omitted,

the thread being collected in package form while tical path by guide rods 80, a suitable counterweight 6| being supplied, if desired, to counterbalance the weight of the reciprocating parts. By means of this apparatus, the thread I is passed under cap 62 on cap-twister l I, to a reciprocating and rapidly rotating bobbin, the thread being thereby simultaneously twisted and collected in the conventional manner. Obviously, other collecting means than the cap-twister illustrated may be employed, as, for example, a ring-twister, a spinning pot or even a collecting spool of the ordinary kind.

In the apparatus illustrated, access may be had from platform 64 to the coagulating bath trough 4 and associated apparatus whichmay include the conventional supply conduit 85 on which are mounted the spinning pumps 66 each of which communicates with a mass tube 61 on which is mounted a spinneret 2, drive shaft 68 for the spinning pumps 66, etc. In the operation of the apparatus, an operator standing on platform 64 withdraws from coagulating bath 3 the thread I formed by extrusion of viscose from spinneret 2. The thread may be then wound in one or more turns about the godet wheel 5 positively driven as by chain Hi from a longitudinal drive shaft II. The end of the thread I is then led from the godet wheel 5 over roller 6 and dropped into the funnel entrance N5 of the first helicoidal tubular passage 1.

The processing liquid, the flow of which has 'been previously started through the helicoidal tubular passage I at a suitable rate governed by the valve 26 controlling the liquid supply to the discharge nozzle 22 of the ejector l8, carries the thread I through the helicoidal tubular passage 1, the leading end of the thread being discharged, together with processing liquid, through ejector l8 into the trough 23. An operator standing on ladder 12, adapted for sliding movement across the face of the machine, winds the thread i one or more times around each of the positively driven rollers 34a and 35a, and drops the end of the thread into the funnel entrance l5 of the succeeding helicoidal tubular passage 8. After the thread is discharged from said helicoidal tubular passage 8, it is led around the rotatable guide rollers 34 35 therebelow in the manner indicated and started through the next helicoidal tubular passage 9, the same procedure being repeated for all succeeding helicoidal tubular passages. After the thread leaves the last helicoidal tubular passage I0, it is caused to wind about the offset and inclined rollers 42, 43 of the drying device ll, after which it is started on cap-twister i2.

The apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 may, if

desired, be one operating face of a double-sided machine, the other operating face being identical therewith. Although the apparatus illustrated is adapted for the application to the thread or the like of but four liquid processing treatments, it is obvious that provision may be made by suitable modification of the apparatus for more or fewer processing treatments. The passages need not be of the helicoidal tubular form illustrated, since any other suitable sinuate form may be used by which a passage of relatively long length is provided in a relatively small space; furthermore, the axes of the passages, particularly if of the preferred helicoidal form illustrated, need not be disposed horizontally but may be disposed obliquely or even vertically. It is obvious that other means than that shown may be provided for passing the processing liquid through the passages; indeed, that in some cases the effect of gravity may be used to this end, either alone or in conjunction with means such as those herein disclosed.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin comprising a source of thread or the like; a tubular passage of helicoidal form through which the thread or the like is passed; means for supplying processing liquid to said tubular passage of helicoidal form; means for withdrawing the processing liquid from said tubular passage of helicoidal form; and means for collecting the thread or the like.

2. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin comprising a source of thread or the like; a tubular passage of helicoidal form through which the thread or the like is passed; means for supplying processing liquid to said tubular passage of helicoidal form; means for withdrawing the processing liquid from said tubular passage of helicoidal form; means for stretching the thread or the like and means for collecting the thread or the like.

3. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin comprising a source of thread or the like; a plurality of tubular passages of helicoidal form; means for passing the thread or the like in sequence through each of said tubular passages of helicoidal form; means for supplying a processing medium to each of said tubular passages of helicoidal form; and means for collecting the thread or the like.

4. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin comprising a source of thread or the like; a tubular passage of helicoidal form through which the thread or the like is passed; means for supplying a processing medium to said tubular passage of helicoidal form at a rate to keep it substantially filled; and means for collecting the thread or the like.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin comprising a source of thread or the like; a tubular passage of helicoidal form through which the thread or the like is passed; means for supplying processing liquid to said tubular passage of helicoidal form; means for drying the thread or the like; and means for collecting the thread or the like.

6. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin comprising a source of thread or the like; a plurality of tubular passages of helicoidal form; means for passing the thread or the like in sequence through each of said tubular passages of helicoidal form; means for supplying a processing medium to each of said tubular passages of helicoidal form; means for stretching the thread or the like between two or more of said tubular passages of helicoidal form; and means for collecting the thread or the like.

7. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin comprising a source of thread or the like; a tubular passage of helicoidal form through which the thread or the like is passed; means for supplying processing liquid to said tubular passage of helicoidal form at a rate sufficient to keep it filled with liquid; means for withdrawing the processing liquid from meaning liquid. together with the thread or the 9. 'Apparatus asein claim 8 in which the ejector includes a nozzle disposed within an enlargement near the discharge end of said tubular member.

10. Apparatus as in claim 8 in which the ejector operates by means 01 processing liquid of the kind employed for processing the thread or the like in said tubular member.

LOUIS E. ovm'r. 

